Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Inconsistent Pretzels

(Pretzels? Or dog treats? Who can say, really?)

So I made pretzels today. They are not the world's greatest pretzels; some are almost too hard to bite into, others are more like bread sticks. This inconsistency exists because I have the Absolute Worst Oven in the World. I hate my oven so much. I'd be better off with a wood stove. I'd be better off with a Bic lighter.

Anyway, now that I'm back home--yay! I'm home!--I've been feeling the urge to cook and bake and generally be domestic in a culinary sort of way. On Saturday I braved the farmers' market and bought a stewing chicken, and on Sunday I made chicken soup. It took all day, but it's the best soup I've ever had. I also made cheddar-scallion rolls with--get this--whole wheat flour from the farmers' market. Local flour! I didn't even know they made such a thing.

By the way, I have to say that I'm really enjoying the farmers' market this fall. In the summer, it's just too overwhelming for me. I go a few times to stock up on meat, but otherwise, I mostly stay away. But a month or so ago I went to see my fiddle teacher play with his band and discovered a vastly more chilled out market . That's because all the farmers sell in autumn is kale. Nobody knows what to do with kale, so they go to Whole Foods and buy tomatoes shipped in from California.

But I know what to do with kale, which is to cook it up with white beans and turkey sausage, and then feel virtuous as all get-out for eating kale.

***

I've been thinking about making pretzels for a while. My kids eat them by the ton, for one thing, and it's got to be cheaper to make them. Also, if I make pretzels, who knows--maybe I'll get a reputation as "that pretzel-making mom." As in, "She's so cool, she makes her own pretzels." Wouldn't that be an awesome reputation to have?

But pretzels, I fear, are in the category of baking which bagels also reside. It's the boil/bake thing, and I think to pull it off you have to have a real baker's oven. Or a real oven, period. My homemade bagels have been interesting, and chewy in a pleasant sort of way, but you'd never confuse them with real bagels.

And my pretzels? Well, you're definitely taking a risk with any expensive dental work--crowns, caps, that sort of thing. Still, for the title of "Number One Pretzel Mom," I say they're worth it. Well worth it, my friends.

11 comments:

I am SO impressed, i have never met anyone else who makes her own pretzels. Can you share your recipe please? And why are they straight? I always thought pretzels had to be that knotty shape?Glad you like my polenta room [polenta being a shade darker than cornmeal, i think!]blessings xx

Not only are you making pretzels- you are making pretzels and blogging about making pretzels. I'm just surviving half-term- not blog-worthy AT ALL. You are that cool blogging mother who makes pretzels. I may just fade silently away now.....

I remember a post about a lovely lamp and the beautiful fabric you used to cover the shade. I can't remember the name of the designer of the fabric. Could you remind me of his name, please? I'm trying to plan a winter project and have been thinking that a lovely pillow by this fellow would be a great project to have on hand for when the cold days set in to stay. I'm pretty certain he makes needlepoint patterns too. Mind you, it's nearly 70 here today, but I know those temps. won't stay.Susan

What a cute dog. Can he come sit on my lap? I'll give him a golden pretzel fresh out of the sack! I find the farmer's market a bit bewildering, too. Good idea to visit now that everyone is hunkering down with their wheeled buggies at the supermarket.

About Me

I'm a writer and a stay-at-home mom who keeps meaning to mop the floors because I think it would make me happy if I did. I love books and music and writing, spend entirely too much time in the dentist's chair (I bet I have more crowns than you do), and used to think I was sort of bohemian, but now I wonder. No tattoos. Minivan. That story.